Photographic film washer



Dec. 3, 1940- c. P. ERSCHEN PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM WASHER Filed March 23, 1939 a Z N M u 'll?" ywm UMP/F5 FL 50/74 2? /IIIIIIIIII Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,223,606 PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM WASHER Charles P. Erschen, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 23, 1939, Serial No. 263,655

11 Claims. This invention relates to washing devices for photographic films.

As is well known, the developing, of photographic films and prints necessitates thorough washing, which is done with clear water; and preferably, the washing bath is maintained in a state of motion to more efi'ectively wash the chemicals from the films and prints. For commercial use, permanent tank installations provide the proper equipment for this purpose; but heretofore nothing of a practical nature has ever been proposed for home use.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a washing device of the character described, which may be used to convert the kitchen sink or bathtub into an efiectlve washing tank for washing photographic films and prints.

Another object of. this invention is to provide a device of the character described; which is so designed that the chemically laden .water is drained from the bottom of the basin.

Another object of this invention is to provide 'a device of the character described, which will maintain a predetermined depth of water inth'e,

basin without danger of overfiowin'g due tostop:

page of the drain by a print. or negative, and in which means are provided for varying "the depth of water maintained. I l

A further object of this invention is to providev means for directing the influx of clean 'water at a definite angle with relation to the overflow pipe 50 as to cause the body of water to swirl around the overflow pipe and thus more eliectively cause the chemically laden water to descend to the bottom and flow toward the overflow.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which is inexpensive so as to be within reach ofall teur photographers.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novelconstruction; combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being-understood that such changes in the precise embodiama- ment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance withthe best modes so far devised for the practical'application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in'section of a washing device embodying this invention and illustrating the same mounted in a kitchen sink;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view gakczen through Figure 1 on the plane of the line Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the removable sections of the overflow pipe; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates generally the washing device of this invention, which upon being mounted in a sink, bathtub or other similar basin 6, over its drain 1, converts the same into an effective washing tank.

Specifically, the washer comprises an upright outer cylinder 8 open at both ends, and a tube 9 positioned in its lower end portion. The tube 9 is also open at both ends and is smaller in diameter than the cylinder 8 so as to provide a large annular space 10 between the cylinder and the tube.

A plurality of radial pins I I secured in the tube 9 and received in openings in the cylinder hold the tube and cylinder in proper assembled relation without interfering with the free passage of water through the space between the tube and the cylinder.

' Thelower end of the tube projects beyond the adjacent lower edge of the cylinder and has an enlarged flat rubber disc or washer l2 mounted thereon. This disc or washer is adapted to lie flat on the bottom of the basin over the drain I to form substantially a fluid-tight connection betweenthe tube 9 and the drain. The tube 9 thus constitutes-anoverflow pipe so that the location of its upper edge, which may be raised by the application of a short tube l3 or a longer tube I 4, determines the depth of the water in the basin. 40 'Ihe'sleeves l3 and M are telescoped over the tube 9 and rest on the pins H, as shown in Figure 1.

.However, the outer cylinder projects a substantial distance above the upper end of the tube 9 even when extended and at all times precludes direct" now of water to the overflow and necessitates the contents of the basin flowing upwardly through the space between the tube and the cylinder. -In' this manner, the basin is drained from the bottom, which is desirable, as the chemically laden water descends. This manner of draining the basin also precludes the possibility of stop-,

' page, by having a film or print float over the that the basin contents swirl around the washer device to facilitate the flow of the chemically laden water to the drain. To this end, an inlet pipe I5 is mounted alongside the cylinder. The I lower end of the pipe is closed and its upper end is connectible with a water supply faucet by means of a hose I6. The pipe is supported in. bearings II fixed to the side of the cylinder and is rotatable for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A plurality of discharge ports 18 drilled radially into the pipe in a straight row allow the water to discharge into the basin in streams substantially tangential to the cylinder 8. By turning the pipe 18 in its bearings, it is possible to adjust the angle at which these streams project to accommodate basins of difierent sizes.

It is, 01 course, desirable to have the water discharge below the water level; and inasmuch as the row of discharge ports I8 must be long enough to provide a discharge for substantially the maximum depth of the water, which is obtained when the long sleeve I4 is used, the upper ports must be closed oil when a shallower water depth is desired.

To this end, a sleeve is is slidably positioned on the pipe to be moved to and from a position closing off the upper three, ports, as shown in Figure 1. Sliding the sleeve to the upper'end of the pipe uncovers all of the ports, as will be readily apparent.

The embodiment of the invention shown in "Figure 4 is substantially identical to that described except that in place of the rubber disc or washer 12, the lower end of the tube 9 is extended, as at 20, and stepped in diameter to fit the drain pipe I.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be 40 readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that this invention provides a convenient and practical washing device for converting any kitchen sink or bathtub into an efiective photographic film bath, and that while it is particularly adapt- 45 ed to home use, it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in'a more permanent structure for commercial use without deviating from the scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device of the character described comprising: an outer open-ended upright duct; a smaller inner duct inside the outer duct with its upper end entirely within the outer duct, said inner duct being in spaced relation thereto and projecting 55 beyond the lower open end of the outer duct;

means on the lower end of the inner duct for connecting the same with the drain of a sink or similar basin; means connecting the ducts in spaced relation and holding the outer duct with 60 its lower edge positioned above the floor of the basin; and an inlet tube mounted on the side of the outer duct and having ports. arranged to project liquid therefrom in a direction to cause the same to swirl around the outer duct.

2. A device of the character described comprising: an outer open-ended upright duct; an inner duct mounted within the lower portion of -the outer duct in spaced relation thereto and projecting beyond the lower open end of the outer 70 duct; means on the lower end of the inner duct for connecting the same with the drain of a sink or similar basin; means connecting the ducts in spaced relation and holding the outer duct with its lower edge positioned above the floor 75 of the basin; and an inlet tube mounted on the side of the outer duct and having ports arranged to project liquid therefrom in a direction to cause the same to swirl around the outer duct, said inlet tube being rotatably adjustable on its own axis to vary the direction of the liquid flow projected therefrom with relation to the outer duct.

' 3. A device of the character described comprising: an open-ended outer cylinder; an openended inner cylinder inside the lower portion of the outer cylinder and smaller in diameter to provide an annular space between the cylinders; means connecting the .cylinders to hold thesame in spaced relation with the lower end of the inner cylinder projecting beyond the lower end of the outer cylinder; means for providing a substantially fluid-tight connection being: an open-ended outer cylinder; an openended. inner cylinder inside the lower portion of the outer cylinder and smaller in diameter to provide an annular space between the cylinders; means connecting the cylinders to hold the same in spaced relation with the lower end of the inner cylinder projecting beyond the lowerend of the outer cylinder; means for providing a substan,

tially fluid-tight connection between the lower end of the inner cylinder and the drain'offla sink or similar basin so that the liquid contents of the basin, in order to reach. the drain, must rise up throughthe space between the cylinders and spill over the upper edgeof the inner cylinder whereby the height of the inner cylinder-determines the depth of the liquid contents of the basin and liquid is taken from adjacent to the floor of the sink or similar basin for passage through said space to the drain; means for varying the height of the inner cylinder inside the outer cylinder; and means carried by the outer cylinder for introducing liquids into the basin and for imparting a swirling motion thereto around the outer cylinder.

5. A device of the character described comprising: an upright open-ended outer cylinder; an upright open-ended inner cylinder-ofsmaller diameter inside the lower portion of the outer cylinder with its lower end projecting beyond the lower end of the outer cylinder; means joining the cylinders to hold the same against shifting without interfering with the free passage of liquids through the space therebetween; means on the lower end of the inner cylinder to support the assembled cylinders in an upright position above the floor of'a sink or similar basin with the inner cylinder connected with its drain so that the liquid contents of the basin are drawn from an area adjacent to the floor thereof and must rise up in the space between the cylinders and spill over the top of the inner cylinder to be drained; a water inlet pipe alongside the outer cylinder having a plurality of radial ports for the discharge of water into the basin in a direction to give the contents of the basin a swirling motion around the outer cylinder; and means for connecting the water inlet pipe with a source of water under pressure.

6. A device of the character described comprising: two open-ended tubes, one inside the lower end portion of the other, the inner tube being considerably smaller than the outer tube so as to leave an annular space between the tubes; means connecting the tubes and holding them so positioned that the lower end of the inner tube projects beyond the lower end of the outer tube; an extension on the lower end of the inner tube insertible into the drain of a sink or other basin with a substantially close flt so that the connected tubes are firmly held in an upright position in the basin with the bottom edge of the outer tube spaced from the floor of the basin so that the contents of the basin are drained from an area adjacent to the floor thereof and must rise up in the space between the tubes and spill over the upper edge of the, inner tube to be drained.

7. A device'of the character described comprising: an open-ended upright cylinder; a tube inside the lower end portion of the cylinder and smaller than the inside diameter of the cylinder; means connecting the cylinder and the tube and holding the same in spaced relation to provide a water passage therebetween with one end of the tube projecting from the adjacent end of the cylinder; means on said end of the tube for connecting the same with the drain of a sink or basin; spaced bearings mounted on the outside of the cylinder; and a water inlet pipe rotatably mounted in said bearings and having ports arranged to project streams in a direction substantially tangential to the outer diameter 01' the cylinder.

8. A device of the character described comprising: an overflow pipe; means for connecting the overflow pipe with the drain of a basin so as to maintain a depth of water in the basin determined by the height oi! the upper edge of the overflow pipe above the floor of the basin; and a hollow member encircling the overflow pipe in spaced relation thereto, said hollow member having its top projecting a substantial distance above the top 01 the overflow pipe so as to be above the water level at all times and having its bottom so located as to be spaced 9. short distance oil the flooroi the basin so that the basin contents are drawn from an area adjacent to the floor thereof and must flow up through the space between the overflow pipe and said hollow member to be drained.

9. A device of the character described comprising: an overflow pipe; means for connecting the overflow pipe with the drain of a basin so as to maintain a depth of water in the basin determined by the height of the upper edge of the overflow pipe above the floor of the basin; a hollow member encircling the overflow pipe in spaced relation thereto, said hollow member having its top projecting a substantial distance above the top of the overflow pipe so as to be above the water level at all times and having its bottom so located as to be spaced a short distance off the floor of the basin so that the basin contents are drawn from an area adjacent to the floor thereof and must flow up through the space between the overflow pipe and said hollow member to be drained; and means carried by the hollow member for projecting streams of water into the basin in a direction to cause the basin contents to swirl around the overflow pipe.

.10. A device of the character described comprising: an upright open-ended outer cylinder; an upright open-ended inner cylinder of smaller diameter inside the lower portion of the outer cylinder with its lower end projecting beyond the lower end of the outer cylinder; means joining the cylinders to hold the same against shifting without interfering with the free passage of liquids through the space therebetween; means on the lower end of the inner cylinder to support the assembled cylinders in an upright position above the floor of a sink or similar basin with the inner cylinder connected with its drain, the

upper end of the outer cylinder preventing direct communication between the liquid and the upper end of the inner cylinder so that the liquid contents of the basin are drawn from an area adjacent to the floor of the sink or basin and must necting the water inlet pipe with a source of water under pressure; means for adjusting the height of the inner cylinder inside the outer cylinder to vary the depth of the sink contents; and means for shutting off some of the discharge ports in the water inlet pipe to insure the discharge oi. water therefrom being beneath the level of the water in the basin.

11. An overflow drain for maintaining a constant level of liquid in a sink having a drain opening and into which liquid is continuously being fed comprising: an open-ended upright duct; means on the lower end of the duct for connecting the same with the drain of the sink whereby the upper open end of the duct determines the level of liquid in the sink; and a tubular guard member surrounding said duct in spaced relation thereto, said guard member having its upper end extending beyond the upper end of the duct and its lower end located medially of the ends of said duct so as to be spaced from the floor oi the sink to thereby provide a passage for liquid to be drained leading from the floor of thesink upwardly into the space between the guard and duct to spill over the open top 01 the duct.

CHARLES P. ERSCHEN. 

